.htaccess file
- The .htaccess file stands for hypertext access file.
- It is a configuration file supported by several web servers.
- The .htaccess file is used for configuration of site-access issues, like URL redirection, URL shortening, Access control security for different web pages and files.
- It is not used when you have access to httpd.conf file.
- It is used only when you don't have access to httpd.conf file.
- The .htaccess file is known as “distributed configuration file”.
- It helps in making configuration changes on a per-directory basis.
- It is a simple text file placed in the directory which can control the access to your web site files.
Creating .htaccess file
- This file is created using a "text editor" like notepad for WINDOWS and the “vi editor” for LINUX.
- Put .htaccess file in the directory.
Example : .htaccess file
AuthUserFile D : \dwnlds\SampleDir\ .htpasswd
AuthType Basic
AuthName “I WON”
Require valid-user
where,
'AuthUserFile' directive tells the Apache web server where the username/password pairs are going to be stored.
'Basic' is only type of authentication that is used.
'AuthName' indicates the collection of documents that are to be protected.
